Cashbox handle

ABSTRACT

A cashbox ( 14 ) has a handle ( 2 ) which is movable from a storage position to a use position. The handle ( 2 ) is attached to the cashbox ( 14 ) by means allowing both pivotal and translational movement so as to allow a substantial space between the gripping portion ( 6 ) of the handle ( 2 ) and the cashbox ( 14 ) with the handle ( 2 ) in its use position. A support stay ( 28 ) is pivoted to both the cashbox ( 14 ) and the handle ( 2 ). The stay ( 28 ) defines the path of movement of the handle ( 2 ), and tends to resist collapsing of the handle ( 2 ) when the handle ( 2 ) is used for trusting the cashbox ( 14 ) into a cash handling apparatus.

This invention relates to handles, and particularly handles forcashboxes for containing currency, e.g. banknotes. These generally needto be loaded into cash handlers, for example banknote validators, and itis therefore desirable for the cashboxes to be relatively compact.Accordingly, there is a desire for any handle provided on the cashboxalso to be compact and preferably collapsible.

The conventional cashbox handle is simply a gripping portion having apair of arms which are pivoted to the cashbox. The arms need to berelatively long to allow for an easy grip, and this means that when thehandle is pivoted to its storage position the gripping portion oftenextends beyond the side of the cashbox, which is inconvenient andcontrary to the requirement for a compact structure.

This problem could be mitigated by shifting the pivot axis of the handleaway from the centreline of the cashbox. However, this makes carryingmore difficult. Also, cashbox handles are often used for thrusting thecashbox into position within a handling apparatus, which would be moredifficult if the pivot axis is offset from the centreline.

It would be desirable to provide a more compact cashbox handle, and onewhich is suitable for allowing its use in thrusting the cashbox intoposition within a handling apparatus.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a cashboxhandle which is mounted to a cashbox by means which allow both pivotaland translational movement. The arrangement is such that when the handleis in its flat, storage position, the attachment means are displacedfrom the centreline of the cashbox. As the handle is pivoted to its useposition, however, the translational movement allows the attachmentmeans to move towards the centreline. This allows the use of a handlewhich is substantially spaced from the cashbox to facilitate grippingwhen in use, but which, when stored flat, does not overhang the side ofthe cashbox.

Preferably, the cashbox handle is provided with a support, or stay,which is pivotably mounted on the one hand to the gripping portion andthe other hand to the cashbox. This therefore defines the path ofmovement of the gripping portion as the handle is moved between itsstorage and use positions. It also assists in keeping the handle inposition when it is used for thrusting the cashbox into a handlingapparatus.

An arrangement embodying the invention will now be described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a handle in accordance with theinvention, in its collapsed state;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, except that it shows thehandle in its use position;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic end elevation showing the handle in itscollapsed state on a cashbox; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic end elevation of the handle on the cashbox inits use position.

Referring to the drawings, the handle 2 comprises a gripping member 4which is generally “U”-shaped in configuration and has a grippingportion 6, two arms 8 extending from opposite ends of the grippingmember, and a pair of shaft portions 10 each of which projects outwardlyfrom a respective one of the arms 8.

The cashbox is provided with fixing blocks 12 each of which is generally“U”-shaped and which, when mounted on the cashbox 14, defines anelongate aperture 16 between a central flange 20 and the upper surface38 of the cashbox. Each of the shaft portions 10 is turnable andslidable within an aperture 16.

This allows the handle to be pivoted from the position shown in FIGS. 1and 3 to the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the shaft portions 10turning clockwise and moving left within the aperture 16 during thecourse of this movement

The handle 2 also comprises a support member 22 comprising a shaft 24mounted for rotation about its axis on a spindle 26 which is fixedwithin the blocks 12, at the ends thereof close to the shaft portions 10when the handle is in its collapsed position. The support member 22 alsohas a pair of support arms 28 which, when the handle is in its collapsedposition, lie alongside the grip member arms 8. The remote ends of thearms 28 are pivotably mounted to the gripping portion 6 of the member 4about an axis 30.

The support member 22 constrains the movement of the grip member 4 as itis pivoted to its use position. The arrangement is such that as theshaft portions 10 reach the end of their travel, the grip member 4 is ina substantially vertical position, with the grip portion 6 overlying thecentre of gravity of the cashbox 14. FIG. 4 shows in a broken line 32the position of the centreline of the cashbox, on which the centre ofgravity lies.

FIG. 4 shows the cashbox in its carrying position, with the arrow Vpointing directly upwardly. The weight of the cashbox is supported bythe action of the shaft portions 10 on the flanges 20.

It is to be noted that, if as in the prior art the shaft portions 10could not move laterally from the position shown in FIG. 4 (assumingthat the support member 22 did not exist) then collapsing of the handlewould mean that the gripping portion 6 would extend beyond the side wall34 or 36 of the cashbox 14.

The handle 2 can also be used for thrusting the cashbox into positionwithin a cash handling apparatus. In this case, the forces will betransmitted from the gripping portion 6 downwardly along the arms 8through the shaft portions 10 against the upper surface 38 of thecashbox. This would normally occur when the cashbox is in a differentorientation, for example, with reference to FIG. 4, the orientation inwhich the vertically upward direction extends perpendicular to the planeof the drawing.

Preferably, biasing means are provided to bring the cashbox handle backto its collapsed position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. For example, theremay be a spring mounted about the spindle 26 to bias the support arms 28anticlockwise (as seen in FIG. 4) to the position shown in FIG. 3.Additionally, or alternatively, there may be a spring provided about theaxis 30 which tends to bias the grip member arms 8 in an anticlockwisedirection and the support arms 28 in a clockwise direction, again sothat the arms would tend to adopt the orientation shown in FIG. 3.

With the arrangement described above, when the handle is being used forcarrying, the gripping portion 6 is located over the centre of gravityof the cashbox, which is located on the centreline 32. When pushing thecashbox using the handle, the direction of thrust also passes throughthe centre of gravity. Any tendency for the handle to turn clockwise oranticlockwise about the shaft portions 10 will be resisted by thesupport arms 28. Also, the handle cannot collapse because anyanticlockwise force on the support arms 28 will be resisted by thereaction between the shaft portions 10 and the upper surface 38 of thecashbox 14, because the point of contact is directly beneath the pivotaxis 30.

Accordingly, using a handle of the invention, an operator cancomfortably push against the handle during the cashbox insertion phasewithout the adverse pivoting which would arise with a conventionalhandle.

However, if the shaft portions 10 were to be forcibly moved to the rightas shown in FIG. 4, by slightly twisting the grip member 4 anticlockwiseabout the axis 30, then both the grip arms 8 and the support arms 28will be free to move anticlockwise because his will tend to cause theshaft portions 10 to rotate anticlockwise and move further to the right,so that the handle is moved (for example under the force of the springs)rapidly back to the position shown in FIG. 3. the handle of thepreferred embodiment is also easy to exchange in the case of damage. Tofacilitate this, if desired, all the elements shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 maybe mounted on a common base plate (not shown) to form a unit.

Although the invention has been described in the context of cashboxes,it would be possible to use the handle for other purposes.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cashbox having a handle comprising a gripmember having an attachment portion attaching the grip member to thecashbox, the grip member being mounted on the cashbox in such a way thatthe grip member can be pivoted from a storage position, where a grippingportion thereof is close to the cashbox, and a use position, where thegripping portion is spaced from the cashbox, while the attachmentportion of the grip member moves laterally with respect to the cashbox,the handle farther comprising a support member pivotally mounted to thecashbox and to the grip member.
 2. A cashbox as claimed in claim 1,wherein the centre of gravity of the cashbox, the attachment portion andthe gripping portion are substantially aligned when the grip member isin the use position.
 3. A cashbox as claimed in claim 2, wherein thesupport member is pivotally mounted to the grip member at a point orpoints which is or are aligned with the centre of gravity of thecashbox, the attachment portion and the gripping portion when the gripmember is in its use position.
 4. A cashbox as claimed in claim 1,wherein the support member is pivotally mounted to the gripping portionof the grip member.
 5. A cashbox as claimed in claim 1, wherein thesupport member is pivotally mounted to the cash box at a point or pointsclose to the attachment portion of the grip member when the grip memberis in the storage position.
 6. A cashbox as claimed in claim 1,including biasing means for biasing the grip member to its storageposition.
 7. A cashbox handle assembly having a handle comprising a gripmember having an attachment portion for movably attaching the gripmember to the cashbox, a support member pivotally mounted to the gripmember and means for mounting the handle to a cashbox, the assemblybeing such that the grip member can be pivoted from a storage position,where a gripping portion thereof is close to the cashbox, and a useposition, where the gripping portion is spaced from the cashbox, whilean attachment portion of the grip member moves laterally with respect tothe cashbox, the assembly also being and such that the support member ispivotally mounted to the cashbox.